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800K � PAGE •..� <br />Ms. Shields responded that there are 110 sworn officers and another 66 employees <br />assigned to investigations, crime scene personnel, internal affairs and other divisions. <br />Commissioner Ginn questioned whether the new officers would be sworn and whether <br />the County would be responsible for an additional $555,000 within the next 3 years for these <br />officers. <br />Ms. Shields responded that Commissioner Ginn was correct. <br />Commissioner Macht questioned the average ratio of about 2.8 sworn officers per <br />thousand citizens and believed the County has a much higher rate. <br />Commissioner Stanbridge hoped neighborhoods with significant problems would be <br />able to utilize the new officers, and Commissioner Ginn expressed her concerns about the <br />impact on the tax base and the taxpayers. <br />Sheriff Gary Wheeler believed that failure to take advantage of the grant would <br />constitute double taxation for the taxpayers as another agency would receive the funds. He <br />stated that the ratio of sworn officers to citizens in Indian River County is between 1.7 and <br />2 per thousand citizens, including the municipal police officers. The Sheriffs Office assists <br />some of the smaller agencies with investigations and also has sworn officers at the <br />Courthouse and in use as school resource officers. The detectives and road patrol division <br />constitute approximately 1.2 per thousand citizens. <br />Commissioner Macht asked that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement be <br />contacted to get those figures for all counties and that the Sheriff supply a copy of his master <br />plan to the Board. <br />Commissioner Ginn noted that the county is experiencing unprecedented growth with <br />approximately 1600 new homes constructed recently. <br />MAY 099 2000 <br />-26- <br />